SpaceNews.com
• Jeff Foust
NASA is seeking ideas for commercial missions to reboost or service the Hubble Space Telescope, reviving an effort more than two years after it rejected similar concepts. The agency’s renewed solicitation puts private providers back in consideration for extending the observatory’s operational life.
Commercial Space
Latest source-backed stories
High activity
NASA is seeking ideas for commercial missions to reboost or service the Hubble Space Telescope, reviving an effort more than two years after it rejected similar concepts. The agency’s renewed solicitation puts private providers back in consideration for extending the observatory’s operational life.
NASA issued a Request for Information on Oct. 29 to assess industry capabilities for in-space servicing of the Hubble Space Telescope. The inquiry signals an exploration of commercial options, but the available information does not specify a mission, procurement timeline or selected provider.
High activity
SpaceX completed all engine testing for Starship Flight 15 within eight days, including three static fires in three days, while also conducting cryogenic proof and catch testing for Flight 16. The company lifted top-deck deluge plates onto Pad 1’s launch mount, marking an unusually busy stretch for the program.
High activity
Boom’s planned supersonic airliner may be delayed as the company pivots toward supplying power for AI data centers, according to the report. That business has also lost a customer, raising questions about the near-term prospects of both initiatives.
K2 Space is positioning its satellite manufacturing business to address growing demand for high-powered spacecraft as communications and computing increasingly move into orbit. The company’s CEO outlined an expansive growth plan, though the available report provides no specific production targets, investment figures or customer commitments.
High activity
MDA Space has secured an initial contract to supply antennas for 66 low-Earth-orbit satellites that Thales Alenia Space plans to help deliver in 2029 for Europe’s IRIS² network. Separately, Eutelsat reported 30% growth in OneWeb connectivity revenue and expects the LEO business to reach EBITDA break-even this fiscal year, even as its GEO video business declines.
High activity
Analysts warn that the looming launch crisis is worse than previously understood. They also find no evidence that SpaceX’s Starship will be used to launch traditional satellites, challenging assumptions that the vehicle will soon provide additional capacity for conventional satellite deployment.
Virgin Galactic’s newly named Apeiron took to the skies for the first time on Oct. 29, carried beneath its carrier aircraft. The flight marks an initial airborne milestone for the company’s Delta-class spaceplane, though the available report does not specify the flight’s duration or whether it included a release or powered testing.
Create a free account to see more recent Commercial Space stories and keep bookmarks in one place.
